Tuesday 25 October 2011

Part 4 - Capacity building vs. Creating unnecessary desires

Conversation between Charlotte, Sean & Sarabe

Part 4 Sarabe:


(This's just part of the series on fighting adverse effects in capacity building: Part 1Part 2, Part 3, Part 4Key takeouts)


I love Sean's reply! I should save it!
Yes... I forgot to add something too... Whenever we implement these service programmes, either to benefit the students or the locals (well, both to be exact) - we need to make sure that we're not a charity who is giving away services for 'free'. We must ask them to contribute as well, such as negotiating with them to do soemthing for us in return. Let me give you an example, say if you're going to a village in Africa where women have to walk 2 hours every day to get/carry water.. and you are going to build a water system in their village so that they don't need to walk so much to get the water - it's great.. but we shouldn't just 'give' them this. What you should do is say, make sure that they attend a healthcare class that you're also organising. So that they know they are responsible for the contribution too.

Similarly.. students should never be 100% subsidised for a service trip.. they should pay at least 60% of the costs so that they will well.. 'treasure' the experience more.  And that will also screen out the applicants who are doing it cos the trip is cheap.


What I won't do is go to a village and show them all these technologies like an SLR camera or give the kids I don't know.. PSP or something. I know it's an extreme example... but I'm echoing what Sean said... isn't this what many NGOs and humanitarians are striving for? Education! and to know more about the world and how it works so they won't be exploited or be at risk of health damage without them realising it themselves..



Sarabe 

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